As a regular poster on these boards I don't want people to think I've seen this post and not responded.
We in Europe have several options, but one over-riding facet dictates what we do. We have worked long and hard to earn our position in world paintball, and as a result the factions stateside very much want to use our name to give credibility to theirs.
But can we support a series which has not run an event yet? Or can we combine with a series which does not in any way relate to our own? Laurent and I both feel strongly about maintaining the reputation and integrity of the Millennium Series and should we combine with anyone just yet? Why should we?
But what about X Ball?? This is slightly different. Europe has heard about it but only a few have played or seen it. We have the opportunity to run a series of X ball events next year inside the Millennium Series. This proposal means that the top US Teams will come to Europe and the top Euro Teams can go Stateside, but of course this will come at a price. We are at this moment working out the budget, which will have to be met by promoters and teams alike. We need to see that there will be takers to the offer. If there isn't then there won't be an X Ball in Europe. We will do all we can to minimise the cost to the teams and hopefully enable them to play the X Ball and 7 man Events, but the worrying thing is that the difference between the level of team sponsorship in Europe and Stateside is vast.
The other selfish point is that to run this as a trial would be a hell of a lot of extra grief for us over-worked promoters ((Sob Sob Sympathy Sympathy)
If there is any news I will let you know.
Niall